NEW YORK -- J. Crew Group Inc. named Mark Sarvary, president of Nestle USA's $1.1 billion frozen-food unit, as its new chief executive officer. Mr. Sarvary, 40 years old, succeeds Howard Socol, who resigned from that post in early January after only 11 months in the spot.

Mr. Sarvary, who has overseen Nestle's Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine lines, will have his work cut out for him at the ailing catalog and retail apparel company. Last year, the company's catalog sales of women and men's sportswear were sluggish, although...